‘Will enhance democratic values’

NEW DELHI: Kitted out in a blue jacket matching PM Narendra Modi’s, NDA’s vice-president candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar filed his nomination papers on Monday. Dhankhar’s win is seen as easy given the voting proclivity and the support of Naveen Patnaik-led BJD and YSRCP of Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Filing his papers, Dhankhar (71) found himself in the company of PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP chief JP Nadda. “I will strive to enhance the democratic values of the country,” he said after submitting his papers.

Described as ‘Kisan-Putra (farmer’s son)’ by the BJP, Dhankhar sought to put up his humblest side, saying he had never thought that a person like him with a modest background” would get the opportunity to serve as the second highest Constitutional post. He expressed his gratitude to the NDA and the Prime Minister. “I was born in a farmer’s family. I had to walk around 6km to my school,” said Dhankhar, who recently quit as West Bengal Governor. “I salute the founding fathers of our Constitution, our great democratic values and the strength of our civilization.”

Earlier, PM Modi lauded Dhankhar, saying he was well versed in legislative affairs and would “certainly be an outstanding chair in the Rajya Sabha to guide the proceedings of the House.” The Trinamool leadership in West Bengal has often accused Dhankhar of acting as an “agent of the BJP.” On his part, he has asserted he has gone by the rulebook in flagging issues to the Mamata Banerjee government.

Dhankar faces Opposition’s andidate Margaret Alva in the August 6 Vice-Presidential election. Alva will file her papers on Tuesday. Upon reaching Delhi on Monday from Karnataka, she met senior Congress leaders and other prominent leaders of Opposition parties.

Murmu just a step away from Prez House
New Delhi: NDA presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu is a step away from taking over as the country’s next president having a clear majority by her side over her rival Yashwant Sinha as the presidential election saw 99 per cent voting Monday. Out of a total of 4796 electors — MPs and MLAs — in the list of Electoral College for the presidential election, over 99 per cent cast their votes with 100 per cent voting by MLAs reported from 11 states and the UT of Puducherry. According to the Rajya Sabha secretariat, the voter turnout at Parliament House was 98.91 per cent. “Out of the 736 electors comprising 727 MPs and 9 MLAs who were allowed by the Election Commission to vote at the Parliament House, 719 MPs and 9 MLAs cast their votes before the closure of the poll,” said the communiqué from the Upper House. The counting of votes is scheduled for July 21. ENS